Inbred maize line PH3GK

ABSTRACT

An inbred maize line, designated PH3GK, the plants and seeds of inbred maize line PH3GK, methods for producing a maize plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred maize line PH3GK with itself or with another maize plant, and hybrid maize seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line PH3GK with another maize line or plant and to methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic maize plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to methods for producing other inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PH3GK and to the inbred maize lines derived by the use of those methods.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of maize breeding, specifically relating to an inbred maize line designated PH3GK.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of plant breeding is to combine in a single variety or hybrid various desirable traits. For field crops, these traits may include resistance to diseases and insects, tolerance to heat and drought, reducing the time to crop maturity, greater yield, and better agronomic quality. With mechanical harvesting of many crops, uniformity of plant characteristics such as germination and stand establishment, growth rate, maturity, and plant and ear height, is important.

Field crops are bred through techniques that take advantage of the plant's method of pollination. A plant is self-pollinated if pollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower of the same plant. A plant is cross-pollinated if the pollen comes from a flower on a different plant.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type for many generations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce a uniform population of true breeding progeny. A cross between two different homozygous lines produces a uniform population of hybrid plants that may be heterozygous for many gene loci. A cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number of gene loci will produce a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically and will not be uniform.

Maize (zea mays L.), often referred to as corn in the United States, can be bred by both self-pollination and cross-pollination techniques. Maize has separate male and female flowers on the same plant, located on the tassel and the ear, respectively. Natural pollination occurs in maize when wind blows pollen from the tassels to the silks that protrude from the tops of the ears.

A reliable method of controlling male fertility in plants offers the opportunity for improved plant breeding. This is especially true for development of maize hybrids, which relies upon some sort of male sterility system. There are several options for controlling male fertility available to breeders, such as: manual or mechanical emasculation (or detasseling), cytoplasmic male sterility, genetic male sterility, gametocides and the like.

Hybrid maize seed is typically produced by a male sterility system incorporating manual or mechanical detasseling. Alternate strips of two maize inbreds are planted in a field, and the pollen-bearing tassels are removed from one of the inbreds (female). Providing that there is sufficient isolation from sources of foreign maize pollen, the ears of the detasseled inbred will be fertilized only from the other inbred (male), and the resulting seed is therefore hybrid and will form hybrid plants.

The laborious, and occasionally unreliable, detasseling process can be avoided by using cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) inbreds. Plants of a CMS inbred are male sterile as a result of factors resulting from the cytoplasmic, as opposed to the nuclear, genome. Thus, this characteristic is inherited exclusively through the female parent in maize plants, since only the female provides cytoplasm to the fertilized seed. CMS plants are fertilized with pollen from another inbred that is not male-sterile. Pollen from the second inbred may or may not contribute genes that make the hybrid plants male-fertile. Seed from detasseled fertile maize and CMS produced seed of the same hybrid can be blended to insure that adequate pollen loads are available for fertilization when the hybrid plants are grown.

There are several methods of conferring genetic male sterility available, such as multiple mutant genes at separate locations within the genome that confer male sterility, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,654,465 and 4,727,219 to Brar et al. and chromosomal translocations as described by Patterson in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,861,709 and 3,710,511. These and all patents referred to are incorporated by reference. In addition to these methods, Albertsen et al., of Pioneer Hi-Bred, U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,068, have developed a system of nuclear male sterility which includes: identifying a gene which is critical to male fertility; silencing this native gene which is critical to male fertility; removing the native promoter from the essential male fertility gene and replacing it with an inducible promoter; inserting this genetically engineered gene back into the plant; and thus creating a plant that is male sterile because the inducible promoter is not "on" resulting in the male fertility gene not being transcribed. Fertility is restored by inducing, or turning "on", the promoter, which in turn allows the gene that confers male fertility to be transcribed.

There are many other methods of conferring genetic male sterility in the art, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. These methods use a variety of approaches such as delivering into the plant a gene encoding a cytotoxic substance associated with a male tissue specific promoter or an antisense system in which a gene critical to fertility is identified and an antisense to that gene is inserted in the plant (see: Fabinjanski, et al. EPO 89/3010153.8 publication No. 329,308 and PCT application PCT/CA90/00037 published as WO 90/08828).

Another system useful in controlling male sterility makes use of gametocides. Gametocides are not a genetic system, but rather a topical application of chemicals. These chemicals affect cells that are critical to male fertility. The application of these chemicals affects fertility in the plants only for the growing season in which the gametocide is applied (see Carlson, Glenn R., U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,904). Application of the gametocide, timing of the application and genotype specificity often limit the usefulness of the approach.

Development of Maize Inbred Lines

The use of male sterile inbreds is but one factor in the production of maize hybrids. Plant breeding techniques known in the art and used in a maize plant breeding program include, but are not limited to, recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, restriction length polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection and transformation. The development of maize hybrids in a maize plant breeding program requires, in general, the development of homozygous inbred lines, the crossing of these lines, and the evaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection breeding methods are used to develop inbred lines from breeding populations. Maize plant breeding programs combine the genetic backgrounds from two or more inbred lines or various other germplasm sources into breeding pools from which new inbred lines are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new inbreds are crossed with other inbred lines and the hybrids from these crosses are evaluated to determine which of those have commercial potential. Plant breeding and hybrid development, as practiced in a maize plant breeding program, are expensive and time consuming processes.

Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, each of which may have one or more desirable characteristics that is lacking in the other or which complements the other. If the two original parents do not provide all the desired characteristics, other sources can be included in the breeding population. In the pedigree method, superior plants are selfed and selected in successive generations. In the succeeding generations the heterozygous condition gives way to homogeneous lines as a result of self-pollination and selection. Typically in the pedigree method of breeding five or more generations of selfing and selection is practiced F₁ →F₂ ; F₂ →F₃ ; F₃ →F₄ ; F₄ →F₅, etc.

Recurrent selection breeding, backcrossing for example, can be used to improve an inbred line and a hybrid which is made using those inbreds. Backcrossing can be used to transfer a specific desirable trait from one inbred or source to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, for example, by first crossing a superior inbred (recurrent parent) to a donor inbred (non-recurrent parent), that carries the appropriate gene(s) for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross is then mated back to the superior recurrent parent followed by selection in the resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from the non-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations with selection for the desired trait, the progeny will be homozygous for loci controlling the characteristic being transferred, but will be like the superior parent for essentially all other genes. The last backcross generation is then selfed to give pure breeding progeny for the gene(s) being transferred. A hybrid developed from inbreds containing the transferred gene(s) is essentially the same as a hybrid developed from the same inbreds without the transferred gene(s).

Elite inbred lines, that is, pure breeding, homozygous inbred lines, can also be used as starting materials for breeding or source populations from which to develop other inbred lines. These inbred lines derived from elite inbred lines can be developed using the pedigree breeding and recurrent selection breeding methods described earlier. As an example, when backcross breeding is used to create these derived lines in a maize plant breeding program, elite inbreds can be used as a parental line or starting material or source population and can serve as either the donor or recurrent parent.

Development of Maize Hybrids

A single cross maize hybrid results from the cross of two inbred lines, each of which has a genotype that complements the genotype of the other. The hybrid progeny of the first generation is designated F₁. In the development of commercial hybrids in a maize plant breeding program, only the F₁ hybrid plants are sought. Preferred F₁ hybrids are more vigorous than their inbred parents. This hybrid vigor, or heterosis, can be manifested in many polygenic traits, including increased vegetative growth and increased yield.

The development of a maize hybrid in a maize plant breeding program involves three steps: (1) the selection of plants from various germplasm pools for initial breeding crosses; (2) the selfing of the selected plants from the breeding crosses for several generations to produce a series of inbred lines, which, although different from each other, breed true and are highly uniform; and (3) crossing the selected inbred lines with different inbred lines to produce the hybrid progeny (F₁). During the inbreeding process in maize, the vigor of the lines decreases. Vigor is restored when two different inbred lines are crossed to produce the hybrid progeny (F₁). An important consequence of the homozygosity and homogeneity of the inbred lines is that the hybrid between a defined pair of inbreds will always be the same. Once the inbreds that give a superior hybrid have been identified, the hybrid seed can be reproduced indefinitely as long as the homogeneity of the inbred parents is maintained.

A single cross hybrid is produced when two inbred lines are crossed to produce the F₁ progeny. A double cross hybrid is produced from four inbred lines crossed in pairs (A×B and C×D) and then the two F₁ hybrids are crossed again (A×B)×(C×D). Much of the hybrid vigor exhibited by F₁ hybrids is lost in the next generation (F₂). Consequently, seed from hybrids is not used for planting stock.

Hybrid seed production requires elimination or inactivation of pollen produced by the female parent. Incomplete removal or inactivation of the pollen provides the potential for self pollination. This inadvertently self pollinated seed may be unintentionally harvested and packaged with hybrid seed.

Once the seed is planted, it is possible to identify and select these self pollinated plants. These self pollinated plants will be genetically equivalent to the female inbred line used to produce the hybrid.

Typically these self pollinated plants can be identified and selected due to their decreased vigor. Female selfs are identified by their less vigorous appearance for vegetative and/or reproductive characteristics, including shorter plant height, small ear size, ear and kernel shape, cob color, or other characteristics.

Identification of these self-pollinated lines can also be accomplished through molecular marker analyses. See, "The Identification of Female Selfs in Hybrid Maize: A Comparison Using Electrophoresis and Morphology", Smith, J. S. C. and Wych, R. D., Seed Science and Technology 14, pp. 1-8 (1995), the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Through these technologies, the homozygosity of the self pollinated line can be verified by analyzing allelic composition at various loci along the genome. Those methods allow for rapid identification of the invention disclosed herein. See also, "Identification of Atypical Plants in Hybrid Maize Seed by Postcontrol and Electrophoresis" Sarca, V. et al., Probleme de Genetica Teoritica si Aplicata Vol. 20 (1) p. 29-42.

As is readily apparent to one skilled in the art, the foregoing are only some of the various ways by which the inbred can be obtained by those looking to use the germplasm. Other means are available, and the above examples are illustrative only.

Maize is an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a continuing goal of plant breeders is to develop high-yielding maize hybrids that are agronomically sound based on stable inbred lines. The reasons for this goal are obvious: to maximize the amount of grain produced with the inputs used and minimize susceptibility of the crop to pests and environmental stresses. To accomplish this goal, the maize breeder must select and develop superior inbred parental lines for producing hybrids. This requires identification and selection of genetically unique individuals that occur in a segregating population. The segregating population is the result of a combination of crossover events plus the independent assortment of specific combinations of alleles at many gene loci that results in specific genotypes. The probability of selecting any one individual with a specific genotype from a breeding cross is infinitesimal due to the large number of segregating genes and the unlimited recombinations of these genes, some of which may be closely linked. However, the genetic variation among individual progeny of a breeding cross allows for the identification of rare and valuable new genotypes. These new genotypes are neither predictable nor incremental in value, but rather the result of manifested genetic variation combined with selection methods, environments and the actions of the breeder.

Thus, even if the entire genotypes of the parents of the breeding cross were characterized and a desired genotype known, only a few if any individuals having the desired genotype may be found in a large segregating F₂ population. Typically, however, neither the genotypes of the breeding cross parents nor the desired genotype to be selected is known in any detail. In addition to the preceding problem, it is not known how the genotype would react with the environment. This genotype by environment interaction is an important, yet unpredictable, factor in plant breeding. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict the genotype, how that genotype will interact with various climatic conditions or the resulting phenotypes of the developing lines, except perhaps in a very broad and general fashion. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art would also be unable to recreate the same line twice from the very same original parents as the breeder is unable to direct how the genomes combine or how they will interact with the environmental conditions. This unpredictability results in the expenditure of large amounts of research resources in the development of a superior new maize inbred line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a novel inbred maize line, designated PH3GK. This invention thus relates to the seeds of inbred maize line PH3GK, to the plants of inbred maize line PH3GK, to methods for producing a maize plant produced by crossing the inbred maize line PH3GK with itself or another maize line, and to methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic maize plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to methods for producing other inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PH3GK and to the inbred maize lines derived by the use of those methods. This invention further relates to hybrid maize seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line PH3GK with another maize line.

Definitions

In the description and examples that follow, a number of terms are used herein. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms, the following definitions are provided. NOTE: ABS is in absolute terms and %MN is percent of the mean for the experiments in which the inbred or hybrid was grown. These designators will follow the descriptors to denote how the values are to be interpreted. Below are the descriptors used in the data tables included herein.

ANT ROT=ANTHRACNOSE STALK ROT (Colletotrichum graminicola). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Anthracnose Stalk Rot. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

BAR PLT=BARREN PLANTS. The percent of plants per plot that were not barren (lack ears).

BRT STK=BRITTLE STALKS. This is a measure of the stalk breakage near the time of pollination, and is an indication of whether a hybrid or inbred would snap or break near the time of flowering under severe winds. Data are presented as percentage of plants that did not snap.

BU ACR=YIELD (BUSHELS/ACRE). Yield of the grain at harvest in bushels per acre adjusted to 15.5% moisture.

CLD TST=COLD TEST. The percent of plants that germinate under cold test conditions.

CLN=CORN LETHAL NECROSIS. Synergistic interaction of maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) in combination with either maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV-A or MDMV-B) or wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Corn Lethal Necrosis. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

COM RST=COMMON RUST (Puccinia sorghi). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Common Rust. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

D/D=DRYDOWN. This represents the relative rate at which a hybrid will reach acceptable harvest moisture compared to other hybrids on a 1-9 rating scale. A high score indicates a hybrid that dries relatively fast while a low score indicates a hybrid that dries slowly.

DIP ERS=DIPLODIA EAR MOLD SCORES (Diplodia maydis and Diplodia macrospora). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Diplodia Ear Mold. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

DRP EAR=DROPPED EARS. A measure of the number of cropped ears per plot and represents the percentage of plants that did not drop ears prior to harvest.

D/T=DROUGHT TOLERANCE. This represents a 1-9 rating for drought tolerance, and is based on data obtained under stress conditions. A high score indicates good drought tolerance and a low score indicates poor drought tolerance.

EAR HT=EAR HEIGHT. The ear height is a measure from the ground to the highest placed developed ear node attachment and is measured in inches.

EAR MLD=General Ear Mold. Visual rating (1-9 score) where a "1" is very susceptible and a "9" is very resistant. This is based on overall rating for ear mold of mature ears without determining the specific mold organism, and may riot be predictive for a specific ear mold.

EAR SZ=EAR SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating of ear size. The higher the rating the larger the ear size.

ECB 1LF=EUROPEAN CORN BORER FIRST GENERATION LEAF FEEDING (Ostrinia nubilalis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to reflowering leaf feeding by first generation European Corn Borer. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

ECB 2IT=EUROPEAN CORN BORER SECOND GENERATION INCHES OF TUNNELING (Ostrinia nubilalis). Average inches of tunneling per plant in the stalk.

ECB 2SC=EUROPEAN CORN BORER SECOND GENERATION (Ostrinia nubilalis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating post flowering degree of stalk breakage and other evidence of feeding by European Corn Borer, Second Generation. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

ECB DPE=EUROPEAN CORN BORER DROPPED EARS (Ostrinia nubilalis). Dropped ears due to European Corn Borer. Percentage of plants that did not drop ears under second generation corn borer infestation.

EST CNT=EARLY STAND COUNT. This is a measure of the stand establishment in the spring and represents the number of plants that emerge on per plot basis for the inbred or hybrid.

EYE SPT=Eye Spot (Kabatiella zeae or Aureobasidium zeae). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Eye Spot. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

FUS ERS=FUSARIUM EAR ROT SCORE (Fusarium moniliforme or Fusarium subglutinans). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Fusarium ear rot. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

GDU=Growing Degree Units. Using the Barger Heat Unit Theory, which assumes that maize growth occurs in the temperature range 50° F.-86° F. and that temperatures outside this range slow down growth; the maximum daily heat unit accumulation is 36 and the minimum daily heat unit accumulation is 0. The seasonal accumulation of GDU is a major factor in determining maturity zones.

GDU SHD=GDU TO SHED. The number of growing degree units (GDUs) or heat units required for an inbred line or hybrid to have approximately 50 percent of the plants shedding pollen and is measured from the time of planting. Growing degree units are calculated by the Barger Method, where the heat units for a 24-hour period are: ##EQU1##

The highest maximum temperature used is 86° F. and the lowest minimum temperature used is 50° F. For each inbred or hybrid it takes a certain number of GDUs to reach various stages of plant development.

GDU SLK=GDU TO SILK. The number of growing degree units required for an inbred line or hybrid to have approximately 50 percent of the plants with silk emergence from time of planting. Growing degree units are calculated by the Barger Method as given in GDU SHD definition.

GIB ERS=GIBBERELLA EAR ROT (PINK MOLD) (Gibberella zeae). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Gibberella Ear Rot. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

GLF SPT=Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Gray Leaf Spot. A higher score incicates a higher resistance.

GOS WLT=Goss' Wilt (Corynebacterium nebraskense). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Goss' Wilt. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

GRN APP=GRAIN APPEARANCE. This is a 1 to 9 rating for the general appearance of the shelled grain as it is harvested based on such factors as the color of harvested grain, any mold on the grain, and any cracked grain. High scores indicate good grain quality.

H/POP=YIELD AT HIGH DENSITY. Yield ability at relatively high plant densities on 1-9 relative rating system with a higher number indicating the hybrid responds well to high plant densities for yield relative to other hybrids. A 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor, average, and very good yield response, respectively, to increased plant density.

HC BLT=HELMINTHOSPORIUM CARBONUM LEAF BLIGHT (Helminthosporium carbonum). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Helminthosporium infection. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

HD SMT=HEAD SMUT (Sphacelotheca reiliana). This score indicates the percentage of plants not infected.

INC D/A=GROSS INCOME (DOLLARS PER ACRE). Relative income per acre assuming drying costs of two cents per point above 15.5 percent harvest moisture and current market price per bushel.

INCOME/ACRE. Income advantage of hybrid to be patented over other hybrid on per acre basis.

INC ADV=GROSS INCOME ADVANTAGE. GROSS INCOME advantage of variety #1 over variety #2.

KSZ DCD=KERNEL SIZE DISCARD. The percent of discard seed; calculated as the sum of discarded tip kernels and extra large kernels.

L/POP=YIELD AT LOW DENSITY. Yield ability at relatively low plant densities on a 1-9 relative system with a higher number indicating the hybrid responds well to low plant densities for yield relative to other hybrids. A 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor, average, and very good yield response, respectively, to low plant density.

MDM CPX=MAIZE DWARF MOSAIC COMPLEX (MDMV=Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus and MCDV=Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Maize Dwarf Mosaic Complex. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

MST=HARVEST MOISTURE. The moisture is the actual percentage moisture of the grain at harvest.

MST ADV=MOISTURE ADVANTAGE. The moisture advantage of variety #1 over variety #2 as calculated by: MOISTURE of variety #2-MOISTURE of variety #1 =MOISTURE ADVANTAGE of variety #1.

NLF BLT=Northern Leaf Blight (Helminthosporium turcicum or Exserohilum turcicum). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Northern Leaf Blight. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

PLT HT=PLANT HEIGHT. This is a measure of the height of the plant from the ground to the tip of the tassel in inches.

POL SC=POLLEN SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the amount of pollen shed. The higher the score the more pollen shed.

POL WT=POLLEN WEIGHT. This is calculated by dry weight of tassels collected as shedding commences minus dry weight from similar tassels harvested after shedding is complete.

It should be understood that the inbred can, through routine manipulation of cytoplasmic or other factors, be produced in a male-sterile form. Such embodiments are also contemplated within the scope of the present claims.

POP K/A=PLANT POPULATIONS. Measured as 1000s per acre.

POP ADV=PLANT POPULATION ADVANTAGE. The plant population advantage of variety #1 over variety #2 as calculated by PLANT POPULATION of variety #2-PLANT POPULATION of variety #1=PLANT POPULATION ADVANTAGE of variety #1.

PRM=PREDICTED RELATIVE MATURITY. This trait, predicted relative maturity, is based on the harvest moisture of the grain. The relative maturity rating is based on a known set of checks and utilizes standard linear regression analyses and is also referred to as the Comparative Relative Maturity Rating System that is similar to the Minnesota Relative Maturity Rating System.

PRM SHD=A relative measure of the growing degree units (GDU) required to reach 50% pollen shed. Relative values are predicted values from the linear regression of observed GDU's on relative maturity of commercial checks.

RT LDG=ROOT LODGING. Root lodging is the percentage of plants that do not root lodge; plants that lean from the vertical axis at an approximately 30° angle or greater would be counted as root lodged.

RTL ADV=ROOT LODGING ADVANTAGE. The root lodging advantage of variety #1 over variety #2.

SCT GRN=SCATTER GRAIN. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the amount of scatter grain (lack of pollination or kernel abortion) on the ear. The higher the score the less scatter grain.

SDG VGR=SEEDLING VIGOR. This is the visual rating (1 to 9) of the amount of vegetative growth after emergence at the seedling stage (approximately five leaves). A higher score indicates better vigor.

SEL IND=SELECTION INDEX. The selection index gives a single measure of the hybrid's worth based on information for up to five traits. A maize breeder may utilize his or her own set of traits for the selection index. One of the traits that is almost always included is yield. The selection index data presented in the tables represent the mean value averaged across testing stations.

SLF BLT=SOUTHERN LEAF BLIGHT (Helminthosporium maydis or Bipolaris maydis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Southern Leaf Blight. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

SOU RST=SOUTHERN RUST (Puccinia polysora). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Southern Rust. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

STA GRN=STAY GREEN. Stay green is the measure of plant health near the time of black layer formation (physiological maturity). A high score indicates better late-season plant health.

STD ADV=STALK STANDING ADVANTAGE. The advantage of variety #1 over variety #2 for the trait STK CNT.

STK CNT=NUMBER OF PLANTS. This is the final stand or number of plants per plot.

STK LDG=STALK LODGING. This is the percentage of plants that did not stalk lodge (stalk breakage) as measured by either natural lodging or pushing the stalks and determining the percentage of plants that break below the ear.

STW WLT=Stewart's Wilt (Erwinia stewartii). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Stewart's Wilt. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

TAS BLS=TASSEL BLAST. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to measure the degree of blasting (necrosis due to heat stress) of the tassel at the times of flowering. A 1 would indicate a very high level of blasting at time of flowering, while a 9 would have no tassel blasting.

TAS SZ=TASSEL SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicate the relative size of the tassel. The higher the rating the larger the tassel.

TAS WT=TASSEL WEIGHT. This is the average weight of a tassel (grams) just prior to pollen shed.

TEX EAR=EAR TEXTURE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicate the relative hardness (smoothness of crown) of mature grain. A 1 would be very soft (extreme dent) while a 9 would be very hard (flinty or very smooth crown).

TILLER=TILLERS. A count of the number of tillers per plot that could possibly shed pollen was taken. Data are given as a percentage of tillers: number of tillers per plot divided by number of plants per plot.

TST WT=TEST WEIGHT (UNADJUSTED). The measure of the weight of the grain in pounds for a given volume (bushel).

TST WTA=TEST WEIGHT ADJUSTED. The measure of the weight of the grain in pounds for a given volume (bushel) adjusted for 15.5 percent moisture.

TSW ADV=TEST WEIGHT ADVANTAGE. The test weight advantage of variety #1 over variety #2.

WIN M%=PERCENT MOISTURE WINS.

WIN Y%=PERCENT YIELD WINS.

YLD=YIELD. It is the same as BU ACR ABS.

YLD ADV=YIELD ADVANTAGE. The yield advantage of variety #1 over variety #2 as calculated by: YIELD of variety #1-YIELD variety #2=yield advantage of variety #1.

YLD SC=YIELD SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to give a relative rating for yield based on plot ear piles. The higher the rating the greater visual yield appearance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Inbred maize lines are typically developed for use in the production of hybrid maize lines. Inbred maize lines need to be highly homogeneous, homozygous and reproducible to be useful as parents of commercial hybrids. There are many analytical methods available to determine the homozygotic and phenotypic stability of these inbred lines.

The oldest and most traditional method of analysis is the observation of phenotypic traits. The data is usually collected in field experiments over the life of the maize plants to be examined. Phenotypic characteristics most often observed are for traits associated with plant morphology, ear and kernel morphology, insect and disease resistance, maturity, and yield.

In addition to phenotypic observations, the genotype of a plant can also be examined. There are many laboratory-based techniques available for the analysis, comparison and characterization of plant genotype; among these are Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), and Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) which are also referred to as Microsatellites.

The most widely used of these laboratory techniques are Isozyme Electrophoresis and RFLPs as discussed in Lee, M., "Inbred Lines of Maize and Their Molecular Markers," The Maize Handbook, (Springer-Verlag, New York, Inc. 1994, at 423-432) incorporated herein by reference. Isozyme Electrophoresis is a useful tool in determining genetic composition, although it has relatively low number of available markers and the low number of allelic variants among maize inbreds. RFLPs have the advantage of revealing an exceptionally high degree of allelic variation in maize and the number of available markers is almost limitless.

Maize RFLP linkage maps have been rapidly constructed and widely implemented in genetic studies. One such study is described in Boppenmaier, et al., "Comparisons among strains of inbreds for RFLPs", Maize Genetics Cooperative Newsletter, 65:1991, pg. 90, is incorporated herein by reference. This study used 101 RFLP markers to analyze the patterns of 2 to 3 different deposits each of five different inbred lines. The inbred lines had been selfed from 9 to 12 times before being adopted into 2 to 3 different breeding programs. It was results from these 2 to 3 different breeding programs that supplied the different deposits for analysis. These five lines were maintained in the separate breeding programs by selfing or sibbing and rogueing off-type plants for an additional one to eight generations. After the RFLP analysis was completed, it was determined the five lines showed 0-2% residual heterozygosity. Although this was a relatively small study, it can be seen using RFLPs that the lines had been highly homozygous prior to the separate strain maintenance.

Inbred maize line PH3GK is a white, dent maize inbred that is suited as a female for producing first generation F1 maize hybrids. Inbred maize line PH3GK is best adapted to the Central Corn Belt, Southeast, Southcentral, Southwest and Western regions of the United States and can be used to produce hybrids from approximately 116 relative maturity based on the Comparative Relative Maturity Rating System for harvest moisture of grain. Inbred maize line PH3GK demonstrates good tolerance to the following maize diseases: Gray Leaf Spot, Northern Leaf Blight, Stewart's Wilt, Common Rust and Fusarium ear mold. Inbred maize line PH3GK has white grain on a white cob, with good grain quality and has high ear placement. In hybrid combination with other white inbreds, PH3GK demonstrates high yields with good staygreen, husk coverage, and food grade white grain. In hybrid combination in its area of adaptation, PH3GK also produces high yielding hybrids with good Gray Leaf Spot tolerance and good Northern Leaf Blight tolerance.

The inbred has shown uniformity and stability within the limits of environmental influence for all the traits as described in the Variety Description Information (Table 1) that follows. The inbred has been self-pollinated and ear-rowed a sufficient number of generations with careful attention paid to uniformity of plant type to ensure the homozygosity and phenotypic stability necessary to use in commercial production. The line has been increased both by hand and in isolated fields with continued observation for uniformity. No variant traits have been observed or are expected in PH3GK.

Inbred maize line PH3GK, being substantially homozygous, can be reproduced by planting seeds of the line, growing the resulting maize plants under self-pollinating or sib-pollinating conditions with adequate isolation, and harvesting the resulting seed, using techniques familiar to the agricultural arts.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION                                                  VARIETY = PH3GK                                                              1. TYPE: (describe intermediate types in Comments section)                     2       1 = Sweet 2 = Dent 3 = Flint 4 = Flour 5 = Pop 6 = Ornamental                  (Hard texture with dent background)                                    2. MATURITY                                                                    DAYS    HEAT UNITS                                                               075 1,444.2 From emergence to 50% of plants in silk                            075 1,453.2 From emergence to 50% of plants in pollen                          003 0,065.6 From 10% to 90% pollen shed                                        074 1,460.6 From 50% silk to harvest at 25% moisture                         3. PLANT                                       Standard                                                                            Sample                        Deviation Size                                                              0,213.2 cm     Plant Height (to tassel tip)    12.91                                                                               25                           0,086.8 cm Ear Height (to base of top ear node) 6.42 25                        0,016.4 cm Length of Top Ear Internode 1.65 25                                 0.0  Average Number of Tillers 0.02  5                                         1.2  Average Number of Ears per Stalk 0.45  5                                  2.0  Anthocyanin of Brace Roots: 1 = Absent 2 = Faint 3 = Moderate 4 =                                                               Dark                   4. LEAF                                        Standard                                                                            Sample                        Deviation Size                                                              009.8   cm     Width of Ear Node Leaf          0.55 25                           085.6 cm Length of Ear Node Leaf 4.91 25                                       05.7  Number of leaves above top ear 0.83 25                                   035.0  Degrees Leaf Angle (measure from 2nd leaf above 14.71                                                                            25                      ear at anthesis to stalk above leaf)                                       03             Leaf Color                                                                           Dark Green                                                                           (Munsell code)      5GY34                           1.4            Leaf Sheath Pubescence (Rate on scale from 1 = none to 9 =                     like peach fuzz)                                                  4.8  Marginal Waves (Rate on scale from 1 = none to 9 = many)                  6.6  Longitudinal Creases (Rate on scale from 1 = none to 9 = many)          5. TASSEL                                      Standard                                                                            Sample                        Deviation Size                                                              06.0           Number of Primary Lateral Branches                                                                             1.35 25                           019.0  Branch Angle from Central Spike 1.55 25                                 57.2 cm Tassel Length (from top leaf collar to tassel tip) 2.88 25                                                                    5.8  Pollen Shed                                                              (rate on scale                                                                 from 0 = male                                                                  sterile to 9 =                                                                 heavy shed)            07             Anther Color                                                                         Yellow                                                                               (Munsell code)      10Y96                             01  Glume Color Light Green (Munsell code) 5GY76                             1.0            Bar Glumes (Glume Bands): 1 = Absent 2 = Present                  22 cm Peduncle Length (cm. from top leaf to basal branches)                  6a. EAR (Unhusked Data)                                                        1       Silk Color (3 days after emergence)                                                                Light Green        (Munsell code)                                                                          2.5GY94                  2 Fresh Husk Color (25 days after 50% silking) Medium Green (Munsell                                                                 code) 5GY56                                                                     21 Dry Husk                                                                   Color (65 days                                                                 after 50%                                                                      silking) Buff                                                                  (Munsell code)                                                                 2.5Y92                 1       Position of Ear at Dry Husk Stage: 1 = Upright 2 = Horizontal 3 =              Pendant                                         Upright                  7 Husk Tightness (Rate of Scale from 1 = very loose to 9 = very tight)                                                                3 Husk Extension                                                              (at harvest): 1 =                                                              Short (ears                                                                    exposed) 2 =                                                                   Medium (<8 cm)                                                                   3 = Long (8-10                                                               cm beyond ear                                                                  tip) 4 = Very                                                                  Long (>10 cm)                                                                  Long                   6b. EAR (Husked Ear Data)                      Standard                                                                            Sample                        Deviation Size                                                              14      cm     Ear Length                      0.84 25                           44 mm Ear Diameter at mid-point 0.84 25                                        122 gm Ear Weight 11.08   25                                                   15  Number of Kernel Rows 0.89 25                                              2  Kernel Rows: 1 = Indistinct 2 = Distinct   Distinct                         2  Row Alignment: 1 = Straight 2 = Slightly Curved 3 = Spiral                                                                        Slightly Curved                                                                 12 cm Shank                                                                   Length 2.70 25                                                                  2  Ear Taper: 1                                                               = Slight 2 =                                                                   Average 3 =                                                                    Extreme   Average      7. KERNEL (Dried)                              Standard                                                                            Sample                        Deviation Size                                                              12      mm     Kernel Length                   0.55 25                           8 mm Kernel Width 0.0o 25                                                      5 mm Kernel Thickness 0.45 25                                                  26  % Round Kernels (Shape Grade) 6.91  5                                      1  Aleurone Color Pattern: 1 = Homozygous 2 = Segregating   Homozygous       19             Aluerone Color                                                                           White                 (Munsell code)                                                                          5Y91                     19  Hard Endosperm Color White (Munsell code) 5Y91                             10  Endosperm Type Other (White)                                                            1 = Sweet (Sul) 2 = Extra Sweet (sh2) 3 = Normal Starch                                                                    4 = High                                                                    Amylose Starch 5                                                               = Waxy Starch 6 =                                                              High Protein                                                                      7 = High                                                                    Lysine 8 = Super                                                               Sweet (se) 9 =                                                                 High Oil                   10 = Other.sub.------                                                        30 gm Weight per 100 Kernels (unsized sample) 1.48  5                        8. COB                                         Standard                                                                            Sample                        Deviation Size                                                              23      mm     Cob Diameter at mid-point       0.71 25                         19             Cob Color                                                                             White                    (Munsell code)                                                                          5Y91                   9. DISEASE RESISTANCE                                                            (Rate from 1 (most susceptible) to 9 (most resistant); leave blank if        not tested; leave Race or Strain Options blank if polygenic)                     A. Leaf Blights, Wilts, and Local Infection Diseases                                        Anthracnose Leaf Blight ( Colletotrichum graminicola)                   7      Common Rust (Puccinia sorghi)                                      Common Smut (Ustilago maydis)                                                  Eyespot (Kabatiella zeae)                                                      Goss's Wilt (Clavibecter michiganense spp. nebraskense)                       6 Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis)                                       Helminthosporium Leaf Spot (Bipolaris zeicola)   Race ------                  6 Northern Leaf Blight (Exserohilum turcicum) Race------                       3 Southern Leaf Blight (Bipolaris maydis)   Race------                         3 Southern Rust (Puccinia polysora)                                            7 Stewart's Wilt (Erwinia stewartii)                                            Other (Specify)------                                                       B. Systemic Diseases                                                                          Corn Lethal Necrosis (MCMV and MDMV)                               Head Smut (Sphacelotheca reiliana)                                             Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus (MDV)                                              Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus (MCMV)                                           3 Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus (MDMV)                                               Sorghum Downy Mildew of Corn (Peronosclerospora sorghi)                        Other (Specify)------                                                       C. Stalk Rots                                                                  4              Anthracnose Stalk Rot (Colletotrichum graminicola)                               Diplodia Statk Rot (Stenocarpella maydis)                        Fusarium Stalk Rot (Fusarium moniliforme)                                      Gibberella Stalk Rot (Gibberella zeae)                                         Other (Specify)------                                                       D. Ear and Kernel Rots                                                                        Aspergillus Ear and Kernel Rot (Aspergillus flavus)                             4 Diplodia Ear Rot (Stenocarpella maydis)                        6 Fusarium Ear and Kernel Rot (Fusarium moniliforme)                            Gibberella Ear Rot (Gibberella zeae)                                           Other (Specify)------                                                       10. INSECT RESISTANCE                                                            (Rate from 1 (most susceptible) to 9 (most resistant); (leave blank if       not tested)                                                                                   Banks grass Mite (Oligonychus pratensis)                          Corn Worm (Helicoverpa zea)                                                    Leaf Feeding                                                                   Silk Feeding                                                                   mg larval wt.                                                                  Ear Damage                                                                     Corn Leaf Aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis)                                         Corn Sap Beetle (Carpophilus dimidiatus                                        European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)                                       1st Generation (Typically Whorl Leaf Feeding)                                  2nd Generation (Typically Leaf Sheath-Collar Feeding)                          Stalk Tunneling                                                                cm tunneled/plant                                                              Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera fruqiperda)                                          Leaf Feeding                                                                   Silk Feeding                                                                   mg larval wt.                                                                  Maize Weevil (Sitophilus zeamaize                                              Northern Rootworm (Diabrotica barberi)                                         Southern Rootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctata)                                 Southwestern Corn Borer (Diatreaea grandiosella)                               Leaf Feeding                                                                   Stalk Tunneling                                                                cm tunneled/plant                                                              Two spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae)                                  Western Rootworm (Diabrotica virgifrea virgifera)                              Other (Specify)------                                                        11. AGRONOMIC TRAITS                                                           7              Staygreen (at 65 days after anthesis) (Rate on a scale                         from 1 = worst to 9 = excellent)                                  0.5 % Dropped Ears (at 65 days after anthesis)                                  % Pre-anthesis Brittle Snapping                                                % Pre-anthesis Root Lodging                                                   5.2 Post-anthesis Root Lodging (at 65 days after anthesis)                     4,568 Kg/ha Yield (at 12-13% grain moisture)                                 __________________________________________________________________________      *In interpreting the foregoing cotor designations, reference may be made       to the Munsell Glossy Book of Color, a standard color reference.         

Further Embodiments of the Invention

This invention also is directed to methods for producing a maize plant by crossing a first parent maize plant with a second parent maize plant wherein either the first or second parent maize plant is an inbred maize plant of the line PH3GK. Further, both first and second parent maize plants can come from the inbred maize line PH3GK. Still further, this invention also is directed to methods for producing an inbred maize line PH3GK-derived maize plant by crossing inbred maize line PH3GK with a second maize plant and growing the progeny seed, and repeating the crossing and growing steps with the inbred maize line PH3GK-derived plant from 0 to 5 times. Thus, any such methods using the inbred maize line PH3GK are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses to populations, and the like. All plants produced using inbred maize line PH3GK as a parent are within the scope of this invention, including plants derived from inbred maize line PH3GK. Advantageously, the inbred maize line is used in crosses with other, different, maize inbreds to produce first generation (F₁) maize hybrid seeds and plants with superior characteristics.

It should be understood that the inbred can, through routine manipulation of cytoplasmic or other factors, be produced in a male-sterile form. Such embodiments are also contemplated within the scope of the present claims.

As used herein, the term plant includes plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which maize plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, seeds, flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, leaves, husks, stalks, roots, root tips, anthers, silk and the like.

Duncan, Williams, Zehr, and Widholm, Planta (1985) 165:322-332 reflects that 97% of the plants cultured that produced callus were capable of plait regeneration. Subsequent experiments with both inbreds and hybrids produced 91% regenerable callus that produced plants. In a further study in 1988, Songstad, Duncan & Widholm in Plant Cell Reports (1988), 7:262-265 reports several media additions that enhance regenerability of callus of two inbred lines. Other published reports also indicated that "nontraditional" tissues are capable of producing somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration. K. P. Rao, et al., Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter, 60:64-65 (1986), refers to somatic embryogenesis from glume callus cultures and B. V. Conger, et al., Plant Cell Reports, 6:345-347 (1987) indicates somatic embryogenesis from the tissue cultures of maize leaf segments. Thus, it is clear from the literature that the state of the art is such that these methods of obtaining plants are, and were, "conventional" in the sense that they are routinely used and have a very high rate of success.

Tissue culture of maize is described in European Patent Application, publication 160,390, incorporated herein by reference. Maize tissue culture procedures are also described in Green and Rhodes, "Plant Regeneration in Tissue Culture of Maize," Maize for Biological Research (Plant Molecular Biology Association, Charlottesville, Va. 1982, at 367-372) and in Duncan, et al., "The Production of Callus Capable of Plant Regeneration from Immature Embryos of Numerous Zea Mays Genotypes," 165 Planta 322-332 (1985). Thus, another aspect of this invention is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiation produce maize plants having the physiological and morphological characteristics of inbred line PH3GK.

The utility of inbred maize line PH3GK also extends to crosses with other species. Commonly, suitable species will be of the family Graminaceae, and especially of the genera Zea, Tripsacum, Coix, Schlerachne, Polytoca, Chionachne, and Trilobachne, of the tribe Maydeae. Potentially suitable for crosses with PH3GK may be the various varieties of grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench.

Transformation of Maize

With the advent of molecular biological techniques that have allowed the isolation and characterization of genes that encode specific protein products, scientists in the field of plant biology developed a strong interest in engineering the genome of plants to contain and express foreign genes, or additional, or modifed versions of native or endogenous genes (perhaps driven by different promoters) in order to alter the traits of a plant in a specific manner. Such foreign, additional and/or modified genes are referred to herein collectively as "transgenes". Over the last fifteen to twenty years several methods for producing transgenic plants have been developed, and the present invention, in particular embodiments, also relates to transformed versions of the claimed inbred maize line PH3GK.

Plant transformation involves the construction of an expression vector which will function in plant cells. Such a vector comprises DNA comprising a gene under control of or operatively linked to a regulatory element (for example, a promoter). The expression vector may contain one or more such operably linked gene/regulatory element combinations. The vector(s) may be in the form of a plasmid, and can be used, alone or in combination with other plasmids, to provide transformed maize plants, using transformation methods as described below to incorporate transgenes into the genetic material of the maize plant(s).

Expression Vectors For Maize Transformation

Marker Genes

Expression vectors include at least one genetic marker, operably linked to a regulatory element (a promoter, for example) that allows transformed cells containing the marker to be either recovered by negative selection, i.e. inhibiting growth of cells that do not contain the selectable marker gene, or by positive selection, i.e., screening for the product encoded by the genetic marker. Many commonly used selectable marker genes for plant transformation are well known in the transformation arts, and include, for example, genes that code for enzymes that metabolically detoxify a selective chemical agent which may be an antibiotic or a herbicide, or genes that encode an altered target which is insensitive to the inhibitor. A few positive selection methods are also known in the art.

One commonly used selectable marker gene for plant transformation is the neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptll) gene, isolated from transposon Tn5, which when placed under the control of plant regulatory signals confers resistance to kanamycin. Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 80: 4803 (1983). Another commonly used selectable marker gene is the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene which confers resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin. Vanden Elzen et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 5: 299 (1985).

Additional selectable marker genes of bacterial origin that confer resistance to antibiotics include gentamycin acetyl transferase, streptomycin phosphotransferase, aminoglycoside-3'-adenyl transferase, the bleomycin resistance determinant. Hayford et al., Plant Physiol. 86: 1216 (1988), Jones et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 210: 86 (1987), Svab et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 14: 197 (1990), Hille et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 7: 171 (1986). Other selectable marker genes confer resistance to herbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate or broxynil. Comai et al., Nature 317: 741-744 (1985), Gordon-Kamm et al., Plant Cell 2: 603-618 (1990) and Stalker et al., Science 242: 419-423 (1988).

Other selectable marker genes for plant transformation are not of bacterial origin. These genes include, for example, mouse dihydrofolate reductase, plant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase and plant acetolactate synthase. Eichholtz et al., Somatic Cell Mol. Genet. 13: 67 (1987), Shah et al., Science 233: 478 (1986), Charest et al., Plant Cell Rep. 8: 643 (1990).

Another class of marker genes for plant transformation require screening of presumptively transformed plant cells rather than direct genetic selection of transformed cells for resistance to a toxic substance such as an antibiotic. These genes are particularly useful to quantify or visualize the spatial pattern of expression of a gene in specific tissues and are frequently referred to as reporter genes because they can be fused to a gene or gene regulatory sequence for the investigation of gene expression. Commonly used genes for screening presumptively transformed cells include β-glucuronidase (GUS), β-galactosidase, luciferase and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. Jefferson, R. A., Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 5: 387 (1987)., Teeri et al., EMBO J. 8: 343 (1989), Koncz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84:131 (1987), De Block et al., EMBO J. 3: 1681 (1984). Another approach to the identification of relatively rare transformation events has been use of a gene that encodes a dominant constitutive regulator of the Zea mays anthocyanin pigmentation pathway. Ludwig et al., Science 247: 449 (1990).

Recently, in vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity that do not require destruction of plant tissue have been made available. Molecular Probes Publication 2908, Imagene Green™, p.1-4 (1993) and Naleway et al., J. Cell Biol. 115: 15la (1991). However, these in vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity have not proven useful for recovery of transformed cells because of low sensitivity, high fluorescent backgrounds, and limitations associated with the use of luciferase genes as selectable markers.

More recently, a gene encoding Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) has been utilized as a marker for gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Chalfie et al., Science 263: 802 (1994). GFP and mutants of GFP may be used as screenable markers.

Promoters

Genes included in expression vectors must be driven by a nucleotide sequence comprising a regulatory element, for example, a promoter. Several types of promoters are now well known in the transformation arts, as are other regulatory elements that can be used alone or in combination with promoters.

As used herein "promoter" includes reference to a region of DNA upstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition and binding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription. A "plant promoter" is a promoter capable of initiating transcription in plant cells. Examples of promoters under developmental control include promoters that preferentially initiate transcription in certain tissues, such as leaves, roots, seeds, fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, or sclerenchyma. Such promoters are referred to as "tissue-preferred". Promoters which initiate transcription only in certain tissues are referred to as "tissue-specific". A "cell type" specific promoter primarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs, for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An "inducible" promoter is a promoter which is under environmental control. Examples of environmental conditions that may effect transcription by inducible promoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light. Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred, cell type specific, and inducible promoters constitute the class of "non-constitutive" promoters. A "constitutive" promoter is a promoter which is active under most environmental conditions.

A. Inducible Promoters

An inducible promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in maize. Optionally, the inducible promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in maize. With an inducible promoter the rate of transcription increases in response to an inducing agent.

Any inducible promoter can be used in the instant invention. See Ward et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 22: 361-366 (1993). Exemplary inducible promoters include, but are not limited to, that from the ACEI system which responds to copper (Mett et al. PNAS 90: 4567-4571(1993)); In2 gene from maize which responds to benzenesulfonamide herbicide safeners (Hershey et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 227: 229-237 (1991) and Gatz et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 243: 32-38 (1994)) or Tet repressor from Tn10 (Gatz et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 227: 229-237 (1991). A particularly preferred inducible promoter is a promoter that responds to an inducing agent to which plants do not normally respond. An exemplary inducible promoter is the inducible promoter from a steroid hormone gene, the transcriptional activity of which is induced by a glucocorticosteroid hormone. Schena et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88: 0421 (1991).

B. Constitutive Promoters

A constitutive promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in maize or the constitutive promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in maize.

Many different constitutive promoters can be utilized in the instant invention. Exemplary constitutive promoters include, but are not limited to, the promoters from plant viruses such as the 35S promoter from CaMV (Odell et al., Nature 313: 810-812 (1985) and the promoters from such genes as rice actin (McElroy et al., Plant Cell 2: 163-171 (1990)); ubiquitin (Christensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol 12: 619-632 (1989) and Christensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 18: 675-689 (1992)): pEMU (Last et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 81: 581-588 (1991)); MAS (Velten et al., EMBO J. 3: 2723-2730 (1984)) and maize H3 histone (Lepetit et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 231: 276-285 (1992) and Atanassova et al., Plant Journal 2 (3): 291-300 (1992)).

The ALS promoter, a Xbal/Ncol fragment 5' to the Brassica napus ALS3 structural gene (or a nucleotide sequence that has substantial sequence similarity to said Xbal/Ncol fragment), represents a particularly useful constitutive promoter. See PCT application WO96/30530.

C. Tissue-specific or Tissue-Preferred Promoters

A tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in maize. Optionally, the tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in maize. Plants transformed with a gene of interest operably linked to a tissue-specific promoter produce the protein product of the transgene exclusively, or preferentially, in a specific tissue.

Any tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter can be utilized in the instant invention. Exemplary tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoters include, but are not limited to, a root-preferred promoter, such as that from the phaseolin gene (Murai et al., Science 23: 476-482 (1983) and Sengupta-Gopalan et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82: 3320-3324 (1985)); a leaf-specific and light-induced promoter such as that from cab or rubisco (Simpson et al., EMBO J. 4(11): 2723-2729 (1985) and Timko et al., Nature 318: 579-582 (1985)); an anther-specific promoter such as that from LAT52 (Twell et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 217: 240-245 (1989)); a pollen-specific promoter such as that from Zm13 (Guerrero et al., Mol. Gen. Genet.224: 161-168 (1993)) or a microspore-preferred promoter such as that from apg (Twell et al., Sex. Plant Reprod. 6: 217-224 (1993).

Signal Sequences For Targeting Proteins to Subcellular Compartments

Transport of protein produced by transgenes to a subcellular compartment such as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome, cell wall or mitochondrion, or for secretion into the apoplast, is accomplished by means of operably linking the nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence to the 5' and/or 3' region of a gene encoding the protein of interest. Targeting sequences at the 5' and/or 3' end of the structural gene may determine, during protein synthesis and processing, where the encoded protein is ultimately compartmentalized. The presence of a signal sequence directs a polypeptide to either an intracellular organelle or subcellular compartment or for secretion to the apoplast. Many signal sequences are known in the art. See, for example, Becker et al., Plant Mol. Biol.20: 49 (1992), Close, P. S., Master's Thesis, Iowa State University (1993), Knox, C., et al., "Structure and Organization of Two Divergent Alpha-Amylase Genes From Barley", Plant Mol.Biol. 9: 3-17 (1987), Lerner et al., Plant Physiol. 91: 124-129 (1989), Fontes et al., Plant Cell 3: 483-496 (1991), Matsuoka et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88: 834 (1991), Gould et al., J. Cell Biol 108: 1657 (1989), Creissen et al., Plant J. 2: 129 (1991), Kalderon, D., Robers, B., Richardson, W., and Smith A., "A short amino acid sequence able to specify nuclear location", Cell 39: 499-509 (1984), Stiefel, V., Ruiz-Avila, L., Raz R., Valles M., Gomez J., Pages M., Martinez-Izquierdo J., Ludevid M., Landale J., Nelson T., and Puigdomenech P., "Expression of a maize cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein gene in early leaf and root vascular differentiation", Plant Cell 2: 785-793 (1990).

Foreign Protein Genes and Agronomic Genes

With transgenic plants according to the present invention, a foreign protein can be produced in commercial quantities. Thus, techniques for the selection and propagation of transformed plants, which are well understood in the art, yield a plurality of transgenic plants which are harvested in a conventional manner, and a foreign protein then can be extracted from a tissue of interest or from total biomass. Protein extraction from plant biomass can be accomplished by known methods which are discussed, for example, by Heney and Orr, Anal. Biochem. 114: 92-6 (1981).

According to a preferred embodiment, the transgenic plant provided for commercial production of foreign protein is maize. In another preferred embodiment, the biomass of interest is seed. For the relatively small number of transgenic plants that show higher levels of expression, a genetic map can be generated, primarily via conventional Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLP), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis, and Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) which identifies the approximate chromosomal location of the integrated DNA molecule. For exemplary methodologies in this regard, see Glick and Thompson, METHODS IN PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 269-284 (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993). Map information concerning chromosomal location is useful for proprietary protection of a subject transgenic plant. If unauthorized propagation is undertaken and crosses made with other germplasm, the map of the integration region can be compared to similar maps for suspect plants, to determine if the latter have a common parentage with the subject plant. Map comparisons would involve hybridizations, RFLP, PCR, SSR and sequencing, all of which are conventional techniques.

Likewise, by means of the present invention, agronomic genes can be expressed in transformed plants. More particularly, plants can be genetically engineered to express various phenotypes of agronomic interest. Exemplary genes implicated in this regard include, but are not limited to, those categorized below.

1. Genes That Confer Resistance To Pests or Disease And That Encode:

(A) Plant disease resistance genes. Plant defenses are often activated by specific interaction between the product of a disease resistance gene (R) in the plant and the product of a corresponding avirulence (Avr) gene in the pathogen. A plant variety can be transformed with cloned resistance gene to engineer plants that are resistant to specific pathogen strains. See, for example Jones et al., Science 266: 789 (1994) (cloning of the tomato Cf-9 gene for resistance to Cladosporium fulvum); Martin et al., Science 262: 1432 (1993) (tomato Pto gene for resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato encodes a protein kinase); Mindrinos et al., Cell 78: 1089 (1994) (Arabidopsis RSP2 gene for resistance to Pseudomonas syringae).

(B) A Bacillus thuringiensis protein, a derivative thereof or a synthetic polypeptide modeled thereon. See, for example, Geiser et al., Gene 48: 109 (1986), who disclose the cloning and nucleotide sequence of a Bt δ-endotoxin gene. Moreover, DNA molecules encoding δ-endotoxin genes can be purchased from American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, Md.), for example, under ATCC Accession Nos. 40098, 67136, 31995 and 31998.

(C) A lectin. See, for example, the disclosure by Van Damme et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 24: 25 (1994), who disclose the nucleotide sequences of several Clivia miniata mannose-binding lectin genes.

(D) A vitamin-binding protein such as avidin. See PCT application US93/06487 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by. The application teaches the use of avidin and avidin homologues as larvicides against insect pests.

(E) An enzyme inhibitor, for example, a protease inhibitor or an amylase inhibitor. See, for example, Abe et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262: 16793 (19B7) (nucleotide sequence of rice cysteine proteinase inhibitor), Huub et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 21: 985 (1993) (nucleotide sequence of cDNA encoding tobacco proteinase inhibitor I), and Sumitani et al., Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 57: 1243 (1993) (nucleotide sequence of Streptomyces nitrosporeus α-amylase inhibitor).

(F) An insect-specific hormone or pheromone such as an ecdysteroid and juvenile hormone, a variant thereof, a mimetic based thereon, or an antagonist or agonist thereof. See, for example, the disclosure by Hammock et al., Nature 344: 458 (1990), of baculovirus expression of cloned juvenile hormone esterase, an inactivator of juvenile hormone.

(G) An insect-specific peptide or neuropeptide which, upon expression, disrupts the physiology of the affected pest. For example, see the disclosures of Regan, J. Biol. Chem. 269: 9 (1994) (expression cloning yields DNA coding for insect diuretic hormone receptor), and Pratt et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 163: 1243 (1989) (an allostatin is identified in Diploptera puntata). See also U.S. Pat. No.5,266,317 to Tomalski et al., who disclose genes encoding insect-specific, paralytic neurotoxins.

(H) An insect-specific venom produced in nature by a snake, a wasp, etc. For example, see Pang et al., Gene 116: 165 (1992), for disclosure of heterologous expression in plants of a gene coding for a scorpion insectotoxic peptide.

(I) An enzyme responsible for an hyperaccumulation of a monterpene, a sesquiterpene, a steroid, hydroxamic acid, a phenylpropanoid derivative or another non-protein molecule with insecticidal activity.

(J) An enzyme involved in the modification, including the post-translational modification, of a biologically active molecule; for example, a glycolytic enzyme, a proteolytic enzyme, a lipolytic enzyme, a nuclease, a cyclase, a transaminase, an esterase, a hydrolase, a phosphatase, a kinase, a phosphorylase, a polymerase, an elastase, a chitinase and a glucanase, whether natural or synthetic. See PCT application WO 93/02197 in the name of Scott et al., which discloses the nucleotide sequence of a callase gene. DNA molecules which contain chitinase-encoding sequences can be obtained, for example, from the ATCC under Accession Nos. 39637 and 67152. See also Kramer et al., Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. 23: 691 (1993), who teach the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding tobacco hookworm chitinase, and Kawalleck et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 21: 673 (1993), who provide the nucleotide sequence of the parsley ubi4-2 polyubiquitin gene.

(K) A molecule that stimulates signal transduction. For example, see the disclosure by Botella et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 24: 757 (1994), of nucleotide sequences for mung bean calmodulin cDNA clones, and Griess et al., Plant Physiol.104: 1467 (1994), who provide the nucleotide sequence of a maize calmodulin cDNA clone.

(L) A hydrophobic moment peptide. See PCT application WO95/16776 (disclosure of peptide derivatives of Tachyplesin which inhibit fungal plant pathogens) and PCT application WO95/18855 (teaches synthetic antimicrobial peptides that confer disease resistance), the respective contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

(M) A membrane permease, a channel former or a channel blocker. For example, see the disclosure by Jaynes et al., Plant Sci. 89: 43 (1993), of heterologous expression of a cecropin-β lytic peptide analog to render transgenic: tobacco plants resistant to Pseudomonas solanacearum.

(N) A viral-invasive protein or a complex toxin derived therefrom. For example, the accumulation of viral coat proteins in transformed plant cells imparts resistance to viral infection and/or disease development effected by the virus from which the coat protein gene is derived, as well as by related viruses. See Beachy et al., Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 28: 451 (1990). Coat protein-mediated resistance has been conferred upon transformed plants against alfalfa mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, tobacco streak virus, potato virus X, potato virus Y, tobacco etch virus, tobacco rattle virus and tobacco mosaic virus. Id.

(O) An insect-specific antibody or an immunotoxin derived therefrom. Thus, an antibody targeted to a critical metabolic function in the insect gut would inactivate an affected enzyme, killing the insect. Cf. Taylor et al., Abstract #497, SEVENTH INT'L SYMPOSIUM ON MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS (Edinburgh, Scotland, 1994) (enzymatic inactivation in transgenic tobacco via production of single-chain antibody fragments).

(P) A virus-specific antibody. See, for example, Tavladoraki et al., Nature 366: 469 (1993), who show that transgenic plants expressing recombinant antibody genes are protected from virus attack.

(Q) A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a pathogen or a parasite. Thus, fungal endo α-1,4-D-polygalacturonases facilitate fungal colonization and plant nutrient release by solubilizing plant cell wall homo-α-1,4-D-galacturonase. See Lamb et al., Bio/Technology 10: 1436 (1992). The cloning and characterization of a gene which encodes a bean endopolygalacturonase-inhibiting protein is described by Toubart et al., Plant J. 2: 367 (1992).

(R) A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a plant. For example, Logemann et al., Bio/Technology 10: 305 (1992), have shown that transgenic plants expressing the barley ribosome-inactivating gene have an increased resistance to fungal disease.

2. Genes That Confer Resistance To A Herbicide, For Example:

(A) A herbicide that inhibits the growing point or meristem, such as an imidazalinone or a sulfonylurea. Exemplary genes in this category code for mutant ALS and AHAS enzyme as described, for example, by Lee et al., EMBO J. 7: 1241 (1988), and Miki et al., Theor. Appl.Genet. 80: 449 (1990), respectively.

(B) Glyphosate (resistance imparted by mutant 5-enolpyruvl-3-phosphikimate synthase (EPSP) and aroA genes, respectively) and other phosphono compounds such as glufosinate (phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT) and Streptomyces hygroscopicus phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (bar) genes), and pyridinoxy or phenoxy proprionic acids and cycloshexones (ACCase inhibitor-encoding genes). See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,835 to Shah et al., which discloses the nucleotide sequence of a form of EPSP which can confer glyphosate resistance. A DNA molecule encoding a mutant aroA gene can be obtained under ATCC accession No. 39256, and the nucleotide sequence of the mutant gene is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,061 to Comai. European patent application No. 0 333 033 to Kumada et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,374 to Goodman et al. disclose nucleoticle sequences of glutamine synthetase genes which confer resistance to herbicides such as L-phosphinothricin. The nucleotide sequence of a phosphinothricin-acetyl-transferase gene is provided in European application No. 0 242 246 to Leemans et al. De Greef et al., Bio/Technology 7: 61 (1989), describe the production of transgenic plants that express chimeric bar genes coding for phosphinothricin acetyl transferase activity. Exemplary of genes conferring resistance to phenoxy proprionic acids and cycloshexones, such as sethoxydim and haloxyfop, are the Acc1-S1, Acc1-S2 and Acc1-S3 genes described by Marshall et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 83: 435 (1992).

(C) A herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis, such as a triazine (psbA and gs+ genes) and a benzonitrile (nitrilase gene). Przibilla et al., Plant Cell 3: 169 (1991), describe the transformation of Chlamydomonas with plasmids encoding mutant psbA genes. Nucleotide sequences for nitrilase genes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,648 to Stalker, and DNA molecules containing these genes are available under ATCC Accession Nos. 53435, 67441 and 67442. Cloning and expression of DNA coding for a glutathione S-transferase is described by Hayes et al., Biochem. J. 285: 173 (1992).

3. Genes That Confer Or Contribute To A Value-Added Trait, Such As:

(A) Modified fatty acid metabolism, for example, by transforming a plant with an antisense gene of stearoyl-ACP desaturase to increase stearic acid content of the plant. See Knultzon et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 2624 (1992).

(B) Decreased phytate content

(1) Introduction of a phytase-encoding gene would enhance breakdown of phytate, adding more free phosphate to the transformed plant. For example, see Van Hartingsveldt et al., Gene 127: 87 (1993), for a disclosure of the nucleotide sequence of an Aspergillus niger phytase gene.

(2) A gene could be introduced that reduces phytate content. In maize, this, for example, could be accomplished, by cloning and then reintroducing DNA associated with the single allele which is responsible for maize mutants characterized by low levels of phytic acid. See Raboy et al., Maydica 35: 383 (1990).

(C) Modified carbohydrate composition effected, for example, by transforming plants with a gene coding for an enzyme that alters the branching pattern of starch. See Shiroza et al., J. Bacteriol. 170: 810 (1988) (nucleotide sequence of Streptococcus mutans fructosyltransferase gene), Steinmetz et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 200: 220 (1985) (nucleotide sequence of Bacillus subtilis levansucrase gene), Pen et al., Bio/Technology 10: 292 (1992) (production of transgenic plants that express Bacillus licheniformis α-amylase), Elliot et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 21: 515 (1993) (nucleotide sequences of tomato invertase genes), S.o slashed.gaard et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268: 22480 (1993) (site-directed mutagenesis of barley α-amylase gene), and Fisher et al., Plant Physiol. 102: 1045 (1993) (maize endosperm starch branching enzyme II).

Methods for Maize Transformation

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, including biological and physical, plant transformation protocols. See, for example, Miki et al., "Procedures for Introducing Foreign DNA into Plants" in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick, B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, 1993) pages 67-88. In addition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for plant cell or tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available. See, for example, Gruber et al., "Vectors for Plant Transformation" in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick, B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, 1993) pages 89-119.

A. Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation

One method for introducing an expression vector into plants is based on the natural transformation system of Agrobacterium. See, for examples, Horsch et al., Science 227: I229 (1985). A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes are plant pathogenic soil bacteria which genetically transform plant cells. The Ti and Ri plasmids of A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes, respectively, carry genes responsible for genetic transformation of the plant. See, for example, Kado, C. I., Crit. Rev. Plant. Sci. 10: 1 (1991). Descriptions of Agrobacterium vector systems and methods for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer are provided by Gruber et al., supra, Miki et al., supra, and Moloney et al., Plant Cell Reports 8: 238 (1989). See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,616, issued Jan. 7, 1997.

B. Direct Gene Transfer

Despite the fact the host range for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is broad, some major cereal crop species and gymnosperms have generally been recalcitrant to this mode of gene transfer, even though some success has recently been achieved in rice and maize. Hiei et al., The Plant Journal 6: 271-282 (1994); U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,616, issued Jan. 7, 1997. Several methods of plant transformation, collectively referred to as direct gene transfer, have been developed as an alternative to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

A generally applicable method of plant transformation is microprojectile-mediated transformation wherein DNA is carried on the surface of microprojectiles measuring 1 to 4 μm. The expression vector is introduced into plant tissues with a biolistic device that accelerates the microprojectiles to speeds of 300 to 600 m/s which is sufficient to penetrate plant cell walls and membranes. Sanford et al., Part. Sci. Technol. 5: 27 (1987), Sanford, J. C., Trends Biotech. 6: 299 (1988), Klein et al., Bio/Technology 6: 559-563 (1988), Sanford, J. C., Physiol Plant 79: 206 (1990), Klein et al., Biotechnology 10: 268 (1992). In maize, several target tissues can be bombarded with DNA-coated microprojectiles in order to produce transgenic plants, including, for example, callus (Type I or Type II), immature embryos, and meristematic tissue.

Another method for physical delivery of DNA to plants is sonication of target cells. Zhang et al., Bio/Technology 9: 996 (1991). Alternatively, liposome or spheroplast fusion have been used to introduce expression vectors into plants. Deshayes et al., EMBO J., 4: 2731 (1985), Christou et al., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84: 3962 (1987). Direct uptake of DNA into protoplasts using CaCl₂ precipitation, polyvinyl alcohol or poly-L-ornithine have also been reported. Hain et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 199: 161 (1985) and Draper et al., Plant Cell Physiol. 23: 451 (1982). Electroporation of protoplasts and whole cells and tissues have also been described. Donn et al, In Abstracts of VIIth International Congress on Plant Cell and Tissue Culture IAPTC, A2-38, p 53 (1990); D'Halluin et al., Plant Cell 4: 1495-1505 (1992) and Spencer et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 24: 51-61 (1994).

Following transformation of maize target tissues, expression of the above-described selectable marker genes allows for preferential selection of transformed cells, tissues and/or plants, using regeneration and selection methods now well known in the art. For example, transformed maize immature embryos.

The foregoing methods for transformation would typically be used for producing transgenic inbred lines. Transgenic inbred lines could then be crossed, with another (non-transformed or transformed) inbred line, in order to produce a transgenic hybrid maize plant. Alternatively, a genetic trait which has been engineered into a particular maize line using the foregoing transformation techniques could be moved into another line using traditional backcrossing techniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach could be used to move an engineered trait from a public, non-elite line into an elite line, or from a hybrid maize plant containing a foreign gene in its genome into a line or lines which do not contain that gene. As used herein, "crossing" can refer to a simple X by Y cross, or the process of backcrossing, depending on the context.

Industrial Applicability

Maize is used as human food, livestock feed, and as raw material in industry. The food uses of maize, in addition to human consumption of maize kernels, include both products of dry- and wet-milling industries. The principal products of maize dry milling are grits, meal and flour. The maize wet-milling industry can provide maize starch, maize syrups, and dextrose for food use. Maize oil is recovered from maize germ, which is a by-product of both dry- and wet-milling industries.

Maize, including both grain and non-grain portions of the plant, is also used extensively as livestock feed, primarily for beef cattle, dairy cattle, hogs, and poultry.

Industrial uses of maize include production of ethanol, maize starch in the wet-milling industry and maize flour in the dry-milling industry. The industrial applications of maize starch and flour are based on functional properties, such as viscosity, film formation, adhesive properties, and ability to suspend particles. The maize starch and flour have application in the paper and textile industries. Other industrial uses include applications in adhesives, building materials, foundry binders, laundry starches, explosives, oil-well muds, and other mining applications.

Plant parts other than the grain of maize are also used in industry: for example, stalks and husks are made into paper and wallboard and cobs are used for fuel and to make charcoal.

The seed of inbred maize line PH3GK, the plant produced from the inbred seed, the hybrid maize plant produced from the crossing of the inbred, hybrid seed, and various parts of the hybrid maize plant and transgenic versions of the foregoing, can be utilized for human food, livestock feed, and as a raw material in industry.

Performance Examples of PH3GK

In the examples that follow, the traits and characteristics of inbred maize line PH3GK are given as a line. The data collected on inbred maize line PH3GK is presented for the key characteristics and traits.

Inbred Comparisons

The results in Table 2A compare inbred PH3GK to inbred PH3GR. The results show inbred PH3GK demonstrates a significantly higher yield and significantly shorter plant height than inbred PH3GR. Inbred PH3GK exhibits significantly better staygreen than inbred PH3GR. Inbred PH3GK shows significantly better resistance to Gray Leaf Spot than inbred PH3GR. Inbred PH3GK also shows above average resistance to Northern Leaf Blight, Stewart's Wilt, Fusarium ear mold and Common Rust, though with limited repetitions in some instances.

The results in Table 2B compare inbred PH3GK to inbred PHN18. The results show inbred PH3GK demonstrates a significantly higher yield and flowers (GDU SHD and GDU SLK) significantly later than inbred PHN18. Inbred PH3GK shows significantly higher ear placement than inbred PHN18. Inbred PH3GK exhibits significantly better staygreen and significantly better resistance to Gray Leaf Spot than inbred PHN18. Inbred PH3GK shows significantly better resistance to Northern Leaf Blight than inbred PHN18, though the number of repetitions is fewer than 10. Inbred PH3GK also shows above average resistance to Fusarium ear mold and Common Rust, though with limited repetitions.

Inbred By Tester Comparisons

The results in Table 3 compare the inbred PH3GK and inbred PH3GR, when each inbred is crossed to the same tester lines. The PH3GK hybrids show above average yields and flower (GDU SHD and GDU SLK) significantly later than the PH3GR hybrids. The PH3GK hybrids present significantly higher ear placement than the PH3GR hybrids and the PH3GK hybrids exhibit significantly better staygreen than the PH3GR hybrids. The PH3GK hybrids show significantly better resistance to Gray Leaf Spot than the PH3GR hybrids. As well, the PH3GK hybrids significantly better resistance to Northern Leaf Blight than the PH3GR hybrids, though the number of repetitions is fewer than 10.

Hybrid Comparisons

The results in Table 4A compare inbred PH3GK crossed to PH0WD and inbred PHN18 crossed to PHT60. The results show that the PH3GK/PH0WD hybrid demonstrates a significantly higher yield than the PHN18/PHT60 hybrid. The PH3GK/PH0WD hybrid flowers (GDU SHD and GDU SLK) significantly later than the PHN18/PHT60 hybrid. The PH3GK/PH0WD hybrid presents a significantly taller plant with significantly higher ear placement than the PHN18/PHT60 hybrid. The PH3GK/PH0WD hybrid shows significantly better resistance to brittle stalk and Fusarium ear mold than the PHN18/PHT60 hybrid.

The results in Table 4B compare inbred PH3GK crossed to PH0WD and inbred PHN18 crossed to PH03D. The results show that the PH3GK/PH0WD hybrid demonstrates a significantly higher yield than the PHN18/PH03D hybrid. The PH3GK/PH0WD hybrid flowers (GDU SHD and GDU SLK) significantly later than the PHN18/PH03D hybrid. The PH3GK/PH0WD hybrid presents a significantly taller plant with significantly higher ear placement than the PHN18/PH03D hybrid. The PH3GK/PH0WD hybrid shows above average resistance to brittle stalk.

                                      TABLE 2A                                     __________________________________________________________________________     PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON REPORT                                                  VARIETY #1 = PH3GK                                                             VARIETY #2 = PH3GR                                                           __________________________________________________________________________                BU BU     TST                                                                               SDG EST                                                                               TIL                                                                               GDU                                                                               GDU                                           ACR ACR MST WT VGR CNT LER SHD SLK                                             ABS % MN ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS                                       __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1 77.1 108 25.6 53.8  5.5 40.3  4.7 150.9 150.7                       2 70.7  98 22.6 58.1  6.5 40.3  1.1 148.3 150.5                                LOCS 40  40 45 19 39 67 46  62  63                                             REPS 48  48 53 21 43 88 49  62  65                                             DIFF  6.4  10  3.1  4.3  1.0  0.0  3.7  2.6  0.1                               PR > T .037+ .027+ .000# .136 .001# .999 .000# .000# .843                   __________________________________________________________________________         POL POL TAS PLT EAR RT STA STK BRT                                             WT WT SZ HT HT LDG GRN LDG STK                                                 ABS % MN ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS                                       __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1 111.1 68  5.1 80.3 33.6 94.8  6.8 99.5 79.8                         2  73.1 43  3.7 84.4 34.1 98.2  5.0 98.5 97.6                                  LOCS  3  3 28 35 26  9 19  4  9                                                REPS  3  3 28 37 28  9 22  4 14                                                DIFF  38.0 24  1.5  4.1  0.5  3.3  1.8  1.0 17.8                               PR > T .037+ .070* .000# .002# .505 .433 .002# .195 .042+                   __________________________________________________________________________         GRN SCT EAR TEX EAR BAR DRP GLF NLF                                            APP GRN SZ EAR MLD PLT EAR SPT BLT                                             ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS                                        __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1 6.0  7.4 5.5 6.4 7.8 94.1  99.5  6.0  5.8                           2 5.0  7.2 5.5 6.5 7.7 94.4 100.0  4.5  4.8                                    LOCS 1 11 2 4 6 36  4 17  8                                                    REPS 1 11 2 4 6 36  4 27 15                                                    DIFF 1.0  0.2 0.0 0.1 0.2  0.3  0.5  1.6  1.0                                  PR > T  .441 .999 .789 .363 .817 .391 .000# .054*                           __________________________________________________________________________         SLF STW ANT HD MDM FUS DIP COM SOU                                             BLT WLT ROT SMT CPX ERS ERS RST RST                                            ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS                                        __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1 2.7 6.5 3.9 96.6 2.8  6.2 3.5 6.5 4.0                               2 5.7 7.0 4.1 96.5 2.3  5.9 4.8 7.5 2.0                                        LOCS 3 2 5  4 3  7 2 2 2                                                       REPS 6 2 9  8 6 12 4 3 2                                                       DIFF 3.0 0.5 0.2  0.1 0.5  0.3 1.3 1.0 2.0                                     PR > T .009# .500 .825 .391 .225 .442 .677 .500 .000#                       __________________________________________________________________________      *= 10% SIG                                                                     += 5% SIG                                                                      #= 1% SIG                                                                

                                      TABLE 2B                                     __________________________________________________________________________     PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON REPORT                                                  VARIETY #1 = PH3GK                                                             VARIETY #2 = PHN18                                                           __________________________________________________________________________                BU BU     TST                                                                               SDG                                                                               EST                                                                               TIL                                                                               GDU                                                                               GDU                                            ACR ACR MST WT VGR CNT LER SHD SLK                                             ABS % MN ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS                                       __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1 73.4 107 25.9 54.2  5.5 42.8  4.7 151.8 151.7                       2 54.9  79 21.8 54.8  5.5 42.1  3.3 146.9 149.8                                LOCS 50  50 53 18 41 71 51  64  65                                             REPS 57  57 60 19 45 78 53  66  69                                             DIFF 18.5  28  4.1  0.6 0.0  0.6  1.4  5.0  1.9                                PR > T .000# .000# .000# .804 .999 .304 .077* .000# .008#                   __________________________________________________________________________         POL TAS PLT EAR RT STA STK BRT GRN                                             SC SZ HT HT LDG GRN LDG STK APP                                                ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS                                        __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1 6.0  5.1 79.3 33.2 94.8  6.9 99.5 88.0 6.0                          2 6.0  4.4 79.5 31.6 95.0  6.1 96.7 86.6 6.0                                   LOCS 1 28 38 28  9 19  4  8 1                                                  REPS 1 28 42 32  9 20  4 10 1                                                  DIFF 0.0  0.8  0.2  1.6  0.1  0.8  2.8  1.4 0.0                                PR > T  .001# .803 .013+ .978 .034+ .206 .809                               __________________________________________________________________________         SCT EAR TEX EAR BAR DRP GLF NLF STW                                            GRN SZ EAR MLD PLT EAR SPT BLT WLT                                             ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS                                        __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1  7.3 5.5 6.4 7.6 92.8 99.4  6.6 5.7 6.5                             2  6.4 6.5 7.0 7.6 88.5 99.1  5.4 3.8 7.5                                      LOCS 10 2 4 5 36  3 12 3 2                                                     REPS 10 2 4 5 37  3 15 6 2                                                     DIFF  0.8 1.0 0.6 0.0  4.3  0.3  1.3 1.8 1.0                                   PR > T .082* .500 .464 .999 .023+ .833 .027+ .008# .000#                    __________________________________________________________________________                      ANT                                                                               HD MDM FUS                                                                               DIP                                                                               COM                                                                               SOU                                            ROT SMT CPX ERS ERS RST RST                                                    ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS                                                __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1 3.5 100.0 2.5 5.7 4.0 6.5 4.0                                       2 4.8  95.4 2.5 5.3 6.5 6.3 3.0                                                LOCS 2  2 1 4 1 2 2                                                            REPS 4  4 2 7 2 3 2                                                            DIFF 1.3  4.6 0.0 0.4 2.5 0.3 1.0                                              PR > T .500 .106  .275  .795 .000#                                          __________________________________________________________________________      *= 10% SIG                                                                     += 5% SIG                                                                      #= 1% SIG                                                                

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Average Inbred By Tester Performance Comparing PH3GK To PH3GR Crossed           To The Same Inbred Testers And Grown In The Same Experiments.                 __________________________________________________________________________                SEL     BU  BU  PRM     TST SDG EST GDU                                                                               IND PRM ACR ACR SHD MST                                                     WT VGR CNT SHD                      % MN ABS ABS % MN ABS % MN ABS % MN % MN % MN                              __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM REPS  19  25 753 753  21 764 93 182 272 147                           LOCS  19  25 753 753  21 764 93 182 272 147                                    PH3GK 101 116 162 104 114 105 58  96 100 103                                   PH3GR 103 115 163 105 112 101 59 109 101 101                                   DIFF  2  1  2  1  1  4  0  13  0  2                                            PR > T 0.09 0.00 0.06 0.13 0.00 0.00 0.99 0.00 0.99 0.00                    __________________________________________________________________________         GDU STK PLT EAR RT STA STK BRT SLF STW                                         SLK CNT HT HT LDG GRN LDG STK BLT WLT                                          % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN ABS ABS                            __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM REPS  28 1038 288 285 213 201 357 129 2 8                             LOCS  28 1038 288 285 213 201 357 129 2 8                                      PH3GK 102  100 102 108  94 106  98 100 3 6                                     PH3GR 100  100 102 101 105  96 100 103 4 6                                     DIFF  2   0  0  6  11  11  2  2 1 0                                            PR > T 0.00 0.99 0.99 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.80 0.99                    __________________________________________________________________________                              ANT                                                                               HD    MDM FUS                                                                               DRP GLF                                                                               NLF                                ROT SMT CLN CPX ERS EAR SPT BLT                                                ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS % MN ABS ABS                                           __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM REPS 8  4 2 5 7 146 67 4                                              LOCS 8  4 2 5 7 146 67 4                                                       PH3GK 4 92 6 2 5  99  5 4                                                      PH3GR 4 91 6 2 5 100  4 3                                                      DIFF 0  0 0 0 1  1  1 2                                                        PR > T 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.03                              __________________________________________________________________________      *PR > T values are valid only for comparisons with Locs >= 10.           

                                      TABLE 4A                                     __________________________________________________________________________     INBREDS IN HYBRID COMBINATION REPORT                                             VARIETY #1 = PH3GK/PH0WD                                                       VARIETY #2 = PHNI8/PHT60                                                     __________________________________________________________________________                    PRM BU  BU      TST SDG EST GDU GDU                                 PRM SHD ACR ACR MST WT VGR CNT SHD SLK                                         ABS ABS ABS % MN % MN ABS % MN % MN % MN % MN                              __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1 115 114 170.7 107 104 58.0 105 100 103 101                          2 115 110 142.0  89 104 58.3 105 100  97  97                                   LOCS  11  10 251 251 254 84  63  85  75  29                                    REPS  11  10 256 256 259 84  64  91  75  29                                    DIFF  0  5  28.8  18  0  0.3  0  0  6  5                                       PR > T .999 .000# .000# .000# .999 .124 .999 .999 .000# .000#               __________________________________________________________________________         STK PLT EAR RT STA STK BRT DRP GLF NLF                                         CNT HT HT LDG GRN LDG STK EAR SPT BLT                                          % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN ABS ABS                            __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1 101 102 109 100  89  97 102  99  4.4 3.5                            2 101  95  96  98 133 106  99 100  4.5 3.7                                     LOCS 349  96  95  62  68 111  46  47 25 3                                      REPS 403  96  95  63  68 114  47  49 29 6                                      DIFF  0  7  12  3  44  9  3  1  0.1 0.2                                        PR > T .999 .000# .000# .572 .000# .000# .030+ .002# .603 .423              __________________________________________________________________________                            SLF                                                                               STW                                                                               ANT                                                                               HD    MDM FUS                                                                               GIB                                                                               DIP                                BLT WLT ROT SMT CLN CPX ERS ERS ERS                                            ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS                                        __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1  2.8 5.6  4.4  90.1 6.0 2.3  4.7 3.0 6.5                            2  5.9 6.5  5.3 100.0 6.0 2.8  3.2 2.0 5.0                                     LOCS  9 8  6  3 2 3  9 1 2                                                     REPS 10 8 10  6 4 6 10 1 4                                                     DIFF  3.1 0.9  0.8  9.9 0.0 0.5  1.4 1.0 1.5                                   PR > T .000# .021+ .175 .369 .999 .225 .038+  .374                          __________________________________________________________________________      *= 10% SIG                                                                     += 5% SIG                                                                      #= 1% SIG                                                                

                                      TABLE 4B                                     __________________________________________________________________________     INBREDS IN HYBRID COMBINATION REPORT                                             VARIETY #1 = PH3GK/PH0WD                                                       VARIETY #2 = PHN18/PH03D                                                     __________________________________________________________________________                    PRM BU  BU      TST SDG EST GDU GDU                                 PRM SHD ACR ACR MST WT VGR CNT SHD SLK                                         ABS ABS ABS % MN % MN ABS % MN % MN % MN % MN                              __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1 114 114 172.8 108 103  57.6 104 100 103 101                         2 114 111 159.2  99 103  57.6 102 100  99  99                                  LOCS  47  11 452 452 455 147  67  90  84  32                                   REPS  47  11 482 482 485 164  69  97  85  33                                   DIFF  0  3  13.6  9  0  0.1  2  0  4  3                                        PR > T .999 .000# .000# .000# .999 .535 .433 .999 .000# .000#               __________________________________________________________________________         STK PLT EAR RT STA STK BRT DRP GLF NLF                                         CNT HT HT LDG GRN LDG STK EAR SPT BLT                                          % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN ABS ABS                            __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1 101 102 109 97  93  98 103  99  4.0 3.5                             2 100  97 101 90 114 104 102 100  4.7 3.5                                      LOCS 476 116 106 77 100 119  68  49 37 3                                       REPS 555 117 107 81 102 124  70  51 41 6                                       DIFF  0  4  8  8  21  6  1  1  0.7 0.0                                         PR > T .999 .000# .000# .057* .000# .000# .368 .004# .008# .999             __________________________________________________________________________                            SLF                                                                               STW                                                                               ANT                                                                               HD    MDM FUS                                                                               GIB                                                                               DIP                                BLT WLT ROT SMT CLN CPX ERS ERS ERS                                            ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS                                        __________________________________________________________________________       TOTAL SUM 1  2.8 5.6  4.1 90.1 6.0 2.3  4.5 3.0 6.5                             2  5.1 6.6  4.8 95.6 5.8 2.7  4.5 2.0 5.5                                      LOCS  9 8  7  3 2 3 14 1 2                                                     REPS 10 8 10  6 4 6 15 1 4                                                     DIFF  2.2 1.0  0.7  5.5 0.3 0.3  0.0 1.0 1.0                                   PR > T .000# .007# .035+ .645 .500 .635 .999  .000#                         __________________________________________________________________________      *= 10% SIG                                                                     += 5% SIG                                                                      #= 1% SIG                                                                

Deposits

Applicants have made a deposit of at least 2500 seed of Inbred Maize Line PH3GK with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Manassas, VA 20110 USA, ATCC Deposit No. PTA-1295. The seeds deposited with the ATCC on Feb. 4, 2000 were taken from the deposit maintained by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., 800 Capital Square, 400 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2340 since prior to the filing date of this application. This deposit of the Inbred Maize Line PH3GK will be maintained in the ATCC depository, which is a public depository, for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the most recent request, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if it becomes nonviable during that period. Additionally, Applicants have satisfied all the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §§1.801-1.809, including providing an indication of the viability of the sample. Applicants impose no restrictions on the availability of the deposited material from the ATCC; however, Applicants have no authority to waive any restrictions imposed by law on the transfer of biological material or its transportation in commerce. Applicants do not waive any infringement of their rights granted under this patent or under the Plant Variety Protection Act (7 USC 2321 et seq.). U.S. Plant Variety Protection of Inbred Maize Line PH3GK has been applied for under Application No. 9900358.

The foregoing invention has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding. However, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications such as single gene modifications and mutations, somoclonal variants, variant individuals selected from large populations of the plants of the instant inbred and the like may be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Seed of maize inbred line designated PH3GK, representative seed of said line having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-1295.
 2. A maize plant, or parts thereof, having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of inbred line PH3GK, representative seed of said line having been deposited under ATCC accession No. PTA-1295.
 3. The maize plant of claim 2, wherein said plant is male sterile.
 4. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of a maize plant of inbred line PH3GK, representative seed of which have been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-1295, wherein the tissue regenerates plants capable of expressing all the morphological and physiological characteristics of the inbred line PH3GK.
 5. A tissue culture according to claim 4, the cells or protoplasts being from a tissue selected from the group consisting of leaves, pollen, embryos, roots, root tips, anthers, silks, flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, husks, and stalks.
 6. A maize plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 4, capable of expressing all the morphological and physiological characteristics of inbred line PH3GK, representative seed of which have been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-1295.
 7. A method for producing a first generation (F₁) hybrid maize seed comprising crossing the plant of claim 2 with a different inbred parent maize plant and harvesting the resultant first generation (F₁) hybrid maize seed.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein inbred maize plant of claim 2 is the female or male parent.
 9. An F₁ hybrid seed produced by crossing the inbred maize plant according to claim 2 with another, different maize plant.
 10. An F₁ hybrid plant, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of claim
 9. 11. A process for producing inbred PH3GK, representative seed of which have been deposited under ATCC Accession No.PTA-1295, comprising:(a) planting a collection of seed comprising seed of a hybrid, one of whose parents is inbred PH3GK said collection also comprising seed of said inbred; (b) growing plants from said collection of seed; (c) identifying said inbred PH3GK plants; (d) selecting said inbred PH3GK plant; (e) controlling pollination in a manner which preserves the homozygosity of said inbred PH3GK plant; and (f) collecting morphological and/or physiological data so that said inbred parent may be identified as inbred PH3GK.
 12. The process of claim 11 wherein step (c) comprises identifying plants with decreased vigor.
 13. The process of claim 11 wherein step (c) comprises identifying seeds or plants with homozygous genotype.
 14. A method for producing a PH3GK-derived maize plant, comprising:(a) crossing inbred maize line PH3GK with a second maize plant to yield progeny maize seed; (b) growing said progeny maize seed, under plant growth conditions, to yield said PH3GK-derived maize plant.
 15. A PH3GK-derived maize plant, or parts thereof, produced by the method of claim 14, said PH3GK-derived maize plant expressing a combination of at least two PH3GK traits selected from the group consisting of: a relative maturity of approximately 116 based on the Comparative Relative Maturity Rating System for harvest moisture of grain, good Gray Leaf Spot tolerance, good Northern Leaf Blight tolerance, good Stewart's Wilt tolerance, good Common Rust tolerance, good Fusarium ear mold tolerance, white grain, good grain quality, high ear placement, high yields, good staygreen, and adapted to the Central Corn Belt, Southeast, Southcentral, Southwest and Western regions of the United States.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:(c) crossing said PH3GK-derived maize plant with itself or another maize plant to yield additional PH3GK-derived progeny maize seed; (d) growing said progeny maize seed of step (c) under plant growth conditions, to yield additional PH3GK-derived maize plants; (e) repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d) from 0 to 4 times to generate further PH3GK-derived maize plants.
 17. A PH3GK-derived maize plant, or parts thereof, produced by the method of claim 16, said PH3GK-derived maize plant expressing a combination of at least two PH3GK traits selected from the group consisting of: a relative maturity of approximately 116 based on the Comparative Relative Maturity Rating System for harvest moisture of grain, good Gray Leaf Spot tolerance, good Northern Leaf Blight tolerance, good Stewart's Wilt tolerance, good Common Rust tolerance, good Fusarium ear mold tolerance, white grain, good grain quality, high ear placement, high yields, good staygreen, and adapted to the Central Corn Belt, Southeast Southcentral, Southwest and Western regions of the United States.
 18. The method of claim 14, still further comprising utilizing plant tissue culture methods to derive progeny of said PH3GK-derived maize plant.
 19. A PH3GK-derived maize plant, or parts thereof, produced by the method of claim 18, said PH3GK-derived maize plant expressing a combination of at least two PH3GK traits selected from the group consisting of: a relative maturity of approximately 116 based on the Comparative Relative Maturity Rating System for harvest moisture of grain, good Gray Leaf Spot tolerance, good Northern Leaf Blight tolerance, good Stewart's Wilt tolerance, good Common Rust tolerance, good Fusarium ear mold tolerance, white grain, good grain quality, high ear placement, high yields, good staygreen, and adapted to the Central Corn Belt, Southeast, Southcentral, Southwest and Western regions of the United States.
 20. The maize plant, or parts thereof, of claim 2, wherein the plant or parts thereof have been transformed so that its genetic material contains one or more transgenes operably linked to one or more regulatory elements.
 21. A method for producing a maize plant that contains in its genetic material one or more transgenes, comprising crossing the maize plant of claim 20 with either a second plant of another maize line, or a non-transformed maize plant of the line PH3GK, so that the genetic material of the progeny that result from the cross contains the transgene(s) operably linked to a regulatory element.
 22. Maize plants, or parts thereof, produced by the method of claim
 21. 23. A maize plant, or parts thereof, wherein at least one ancestor of said maize plant is the maize plant of claim 2, said maize plant expressing a combination of at least two PH3GK traits selected from the group consisting of: a relative maturity of approximately 116 based on the Comparative Relative Maturity Rating System for harvest moisture of grain, good Gray Leaf Spot tolerance, good Northern Leaf Blight tolerance, good Stewart's Wilt tolerance, good Common Rust tolerance, good Fusarium ear mold tolerance, white grain, good grain quality, high ear placement, high yields, good staygreen, and adapted to the Central Corn Belt, Southeast, Southcentral, Southwest and Western regions of the United States.
 24. A method for developing a maize plant in a maize plant breeding program using plant breeding techniques, which include employing a maize plant, or its parts, as a source of plant breeding material, comprising: obtaining the maize plant, or its parts, of claim 2 as a source of said breeding material.
 25. The maize plant breeding program of claim 24 wherein plant breeding techniques are selected from the group consisting of: recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, restriction fragment length polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection, and transformation.
 26. A maize plant, or parts thereof, produced by the method of claim 24, said maize plant expressing a combination of at least two PH3GK traits selected from the group consisting of: a relative maturity of approximately 116 based on the Comparative Relative Maturity Rating System for harvest moisture of grain, good Gray Leaf Spot tolerance, good Northern Leaf Blight tolerance, good Stewart's Wilt tolerance, good Common Rust tolerance, good Fusarium ear mold tolerance, white grain, good grain quality, high ear placement, high yields, good staygreen, and adapted to the Central Corn Belt, Southeast, Southcentral, Southwest and Western regions of the United States. 